Chapter 24

After my class, I just messaged my secretary to email me all the important documents that need my attention as soon as possible and all urgent matters that I need to deal with, I also asked her to email my schedules this week so I can do an advance preparations for it. I told her that she can also take a leave if all her tasks for today are done. I am not in the mood to go back in the office and deal with it.

I decided to go home for today and spend the remaining hours of the day at home. I even messaged my butler to prepare the kitchen complete with cooking utensils and ingredients that I need to use to cook for dinner. Because I am planning to cook some filipino foods and some filipino delicacies for dessert, I also ask the chef's assistance just in case I will need it.

It is been a long time since the last time I cook filipino dishes and I am not that familiar with how they were cooked. I plan to have some menudo ( a stew made with pork or pork liver or beef meat with a red chili pepper base ), giniling ( ground pork meat stewed in tomato sauce ), the traditional filipino pasta called pansit ( stir fried noodles ) and ginataang alimasag ( coconut stewed crabs ) for my main dish. I plan to have either banana con yelo or banana cue for dessert. I need the chef's assistance to prepare all of this with the amount that enough for the people living in the mansion.

Additional information about filipino pasta ( pansit ), we have different varieties of pansit like canton, bihon, lomi, mami and miki. Almost all towns and provinces in the Philippines have their own version of pansit. My favorite one is the traditional pansit canton that we catered on birthdays and other special occasions. Filipinos believes that eating pansit especially on your birthday makes your life span longer.

As I was walking on my way to the parking space, I felt a familiar presence walking beside me, and as I look up, I saw him again. Looking in his dark eyes, I was captivated again and I can feel my heart beating, the kind of beat that I don't want to feel or remember for now, I am not ready to deal with this kind of emotion, it will just hinder my plans.

" Hi, are your classes done for the day? " he asked

" Hmm, yeah, I only have three subjects, how about you? " I replied

"Yeah, I only have two subjects today and I am lucky to attend those subjects with you * smiles * " Oh my gosh, his smile is so bright and captivating I can hear my heart sounding * badump badump * This is dangerous, I need to stay away from him, as far as possible

" * awkward smile * Hmm okay, I have to go, see you around " and I walk faster that I look like I am jogging, just to be away from him. I didn't even wait for his response. I know I acted rude but I am not mentally and emotionally prepared to deal with this kind of situation.

After 15 minutes of walking slush jogging, I arrived on my private parking space. Grab my keys in my back pocket and open my car. I put my back pack on my passenger seat and turn on the engine. I also turn on my music player so I can listen to some music while I am hitting on the road. So I push some buttons to play some music before I started my journey.

* 6 8 12 by Brian McKnight *

" Ooh, ooh

Do you ever think about me?

Do you ever cry yourself to sleep?

In the middle of the night when you're awake,

Are you calling out for me?

Do you ever reminisce?

I can't believe I'm acting like this

I know it's crazy

How I still can feel your kiss

It's been six months, eight days, twelve hours

Since you went away

I miss you so much and I don't know what to say

I should be over you

I should know better but it's just not the case

It's been six months, eight days, twelve hours

Since you went away

Do you ever ask about me?

Do your friends still tell you what to do?

Every time the phone rings,

Do you wish it was me calling you?

Do you still feel the same?

Or has time put out the flame?

I miss you

Is everything okay?

It's been six months,… "

After almost 30 minutes of driving I arrive in the mansion. I went straight to my room to put my things away and change my clothes into something comfortable and appropriate to wear in the kitchen. I also tied my hair in a bun to make sure that there will be no hair strand will fall on the foods I will be cooking, no one wants hair strand on their food don't they? I may not be suffering from hair fall but it is better to be safe than sorry.

After preparing myself, I went to the kitchen and check everything that I need is ready. I decided to start preparing banana con yelo so that it can be chilled longer while waiting for the other dishes to be cook.

It is a dessert slush snacks that is very suitable to prepare in a tropical country like the Philippines, it is chilled and it helps people to feel cool from heat. It can be prepared by letting it sit on a caramel sauce topped with ice and milk but what I will do will be different, I will prepare my own version of banana con yelo.

All the ingredients needed are banana, brown sugar, salt, water and evaporated milk. You can also use vanilla extract or vanilla essence if you like but it is just optional ingredient. The measurement of each ingredients depends on the amount you want to prepare. Since what I will be preparing should be good for at least 10 persons then I need to prepare more than usual.

I peeled the ripe saba banana then pour the water in a cooking pot and let it boil. When the water boiled then put - in the sugar and stir. Next add the vanilla extract and salt to taste, stir once more and let it cook for one minute. Add the banana, adjust the heat to low and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

Let the liquid reduce to half then turn - off the heat allow the banana to cool. After it gets cool, pour it in a serving bowl or container then put it in the fridge and wait it to be chilled on your desired temperature. When you served it, top it with your desired amount of shaved ice and evaporated milk for additional sweetness.